Americans from hantavirus cruise ship remain in quarantine to monitor for symptoms, CDC says

The 18 U.S. passengers who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship remain in federal quarantine while doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determine when they can safely return home.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

At a press briefing Wednesday, the CDC said it encourages passengers to remain in quarantine until the end of the 42-day incubation period, which began on May 11, the day they disembarked from the cruise ship.

The CDC’s Dr. David Fitter, incident manager for the agency’s hantavirus response, said they are still interviewing each of the passengers to determine the extent to which they were exposed to Andes hantavirus aboard the cruise ship. This process is expected to last at least until Thursday.

“Currently, no state or federal quarantine orders have been issued,” Fitter said. “The goal is to work with them to find them the best possible place. »

Two of the passengers were tested for the Andean strain of hantavirus that caused the outbreak. The one who had symptoms and was sent to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta tested negative.

A CDC laboratory in Atlanta is currently analyzing a blood sample taken from a second passenger at the National Quarantine Center in Omaha, Nebraska, after an initial test showed a “slightly positive” result for Andean hantavirus. Results of that serology test are expected within the next day or two, Fitter said.

In a positive development in Nebraska, a person from the cruise ship who was initially taken to the biocontainment unit was allowed to move into quarantine. the University of Nebraska Medical Center said Wednesday.

At least seven Americans who had already gotten off the ship are believed to be quarantining at home in several states, where health departments said they were in regular contact with passengers to monitor symptoms.

“We are working closely with state and local health departments and with passengers who are at home,” Fitter said, “to make sure they understand what is expected of them to monitor themselves.” This could mean isolating in separate parts of a house and wearing an N95 mask.

Citing privacy concerns, CDC officials declined to comment on how many people in the United States — passengers or people they may have been in contact with — are being monitored at home.

For now, the CDC recommends testing only people who have been exposed to hantavirus and have symptoms. During the briefing, Fitter said there is a blood test specifically for the Andes that has been validated, as well as a PCR test, although it has not yet been used for patient care.

As of Wednesday, 11 cases of hantavirus were reported worldwide, with eight confirmed. All were passengers or crew members on board the MV Hondius. No Americans have had a conclusive positive test result.

Three people from the cruise have died, including a Dutch couple who health authorities say were exposed to the virus during a visit to South America.

All cases involve the Andean strain of hantavirus, the only strain known to be able to spread from person to person.

Although some reports indicate people have caught it through casual contact, most scientists say it does not spread easily. Most people with hantavirus, including the Andes strain, become infected after inhaling or ingesting urine particles or droppings from rodents carrying the virus.

Large epidemics are extremely rare; It is estimated that only 2-5% of all cases in the Andes come from person-to-person transmission.